Critical Thinking Terms

adjective adjective describes a quality or attribute of a noun, in this case, 'advertent' means being attentive or aware

• It is important to be advertent when handling sensitive information.
• Be sure to be advertent about where you leave your keys.
• Dude, you gotta be more advertent with your social media posts.
• She was advertent in her approach to the problem, carefully considering all possible solutions.

adjective Cogent is an adjective that describes something that is clear, logical, and convincing.

• The lawyer presented a cogent argument in court, backed up with strong evidence.
• She always has a cogent explanation for everything, it's impressive.
• His reasoning was so cogent, it was like he read my mind.
• The author's words were a cogent force that captivated the readers.

noun a final decision or judgment; the end or finish of an event or process

adjective forming an end or finish

• In conclusion, the research findings suggest a strong correlation between exercise and improved mental health.
• So yeah, that's the conclusion we came to after analyzing all the data.
• To wrap it up, the bottom line is that we gotta start working smarter, not harder.
• As the sun set on the debate, the conclusion emerged like a bright light in the darkness.

verb to think about carefully; to take into account

adjective regarded as; thought to be

• The proposal is being considered by the board of directors.
• I'm considering going on a vacation next month.
• I never even considered that option before.
• Her words should be considered as a warning sign.

noun the process of becoming deeper or more intense

verb to make or become deeper

adjective having great depth or intensity

• The deepening of our understanding of the topic will require further research.
• We need to dig deeper to really get what's going on.
• Let's get down to the nitty-gritty and really understand this.
• As time passes, the bond between us keeps deepening.

noun the act of not believing or rejecting belief

verb to reject or refuse to believe

• Many people disbelieve the scientific evidence presented to them.
• I can't believe you actually disbelieve what he said!
• Some people just straight up disbelieve anything that goes against their beliefs.
• Her eyes widened in disbelieve as she saw the surprise party waiting for her.

verb to perceive or recognize something

• It is important to discern the true meaning behind the data before making any conclusions.
• I can discern that she is upset by the tone of her voice.
• I can totally discern that he's lying about where he was last night.
• She could discern the hidden message in his words, even though he spoke in riddles.

verb to harm the reputation of someone or something by showing that they are not honest, true, or reliable

• The scientist's research was discredited after it was discovered that he had falsified his data.
• I can't believe she still believes that discredited conspiracy theory.
• That idea got totally discredited after the truth came out.
• His reputation was discredited when he was caught lying about his qualifications.

adjective not influenced by strong emotion; impartial

• The judge remained dispassionate throughout the trial, carefully weighing the evidence presented.
• She gave a dispassionate review of the new restaurant, pointing out both its strengths and weaknesses.
• I know I should be dispassionate about this breakup, but it's really hard not to be emotional.
• His dispassionate demeanor was like a shield, protecting him from getting too emotionally involved.

adjective fallacious - containing a mistake in logic; deceptive or misleading

• The argument presented by the defense attorney was fallacious and lacked evidence.
• Don't believe everything you hear, some of it may be fallacious.
• That website is full of fallacious information, don't trust it.
• Her promises turned out to be fallacious, like a mirage in the desert.

adjective showing a lack of respect or seriousness; frivolously disrespectful

• Her flippant attitude towards the serious matter was concerning.
• Stop being so flippant about the situation, it's not a joke.
• She always has a flippant response ready to go.
• His flippant disregard for authority eventually caught up with him.

noun a statement that is only partially true; a statement that is intended to deceive or mislead

• It is important to distinguish between a complete truth and a half truth in any legal case.
• Don't believe everything you hear, it could just be a half truth.
• I wouldn't trust him, he's always spinning half truths to get what he wants.
• Her smile was like a half truth, hiding the pain she felt inside.

adjective lacking sense, significance, or ideas; silly

• The professor dismissed the student's inane question during the lecture.
• I can't believe she wasted time on such an inane topic.
• Stop being so inane, it's annoying.
• His inane ideas were like a broken record, repeating the same nonsense over and over again.

noun a person who spoils the enjoyment of others, typically by being disapproving or overly serious

• The teacher was seen as a killjoy by the students because she always enforced strict rules.
• Don't be such a killjoy and come join us for the party!
• She's such a buzzkill, always being a killjoy at every gathering.
• His negative attitude was like a killjoy, sucking the energy out of the room.

noun a college or university curriculum aimed at imparting general knowledge and developing general intellectual capacities, in contrast to a professional, vocational, or technical curriculum

• The liberal arts curriculum includes a wide range of subjects such as literature, philosophy, and history.
• I decided to major in liberal arts because I enjoy learning about different topics.
• Some people think studying liberal arts is a waste of time, but I find it really interesting.
• Exploring the liberal arts is like opening a door to a world of knowledge and creativity.

adjective describes something that makes sense or follows a clear and rational thought process

• It is important to follow a logical sequence when presenting your arguments in an academic essay.
• If you think about it logically, it just doesn't make sense to spend all that money on something you don't really need.
• Dude, it's just not logical to drive all the way across town just to get a burger.
• In the game of chess, you have to think several moves ahead and make logical decisions to outsmart your opponent.

noun A word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea.

verb A word that expresses an action, occurrence, or state of being.

adverb A word that modifies or describes a verb, adjective, or another adverb.

preposition A word that shows the relationship between a noun (or pronoun) and other words in a sentence.

• Please take a moment to look at the detailed report before making a decision.
• Hey, can you look at this picture and tell me what you think?
• Yo, check out this new song - you gotta look at it!
• When faced with a challenge, sometimes you need to step back and look at the bigger picture.

adjective A word that describes or modifies a noun or pronoun. In this case, 'obvious' describes something that is easily seen or understood.

• The solution to the problem was quite obvious once we analyzed the data.
• It's pretty obvious that she has a crush on him.
• Dude, it's like, totally obvious that he's lying.
• The elephant in the room was so obvious, yet no one wanted to address it.

adjective a word or phrase naming an attribute, added to or grammatically related to a noun to modify or describe it

• She is known for being highly opinionated on political matters.
• My friend can be a bit too opinionated about which TV shows are the best.
• Don't listen to him, he's just a really opinionated dude.
• Her opinions are like a strong gust of wind, forceful and unyielding.

noun a state of being confused or puzzled

adjective perplexed or puzzled

• The perplexity of the situation left the researchers scratching their heads.
• I'm completely lost in the perplexity of this math problem.
• The perplexity of the new video game had me feeling like a noob.
• The perplexity of love can often lead to heartache and confusion.

noun the quality of seeming reasonable or probable

adjective plausible

• The plausibility of the theory was carefully examined by the scientific community.
• I'm not sure about the plausibility of his excuse for being late.
• I highly doubt the plausibility of that story he's telling.
• The plausibility of her promises seemed to fade away as time went on.

adjective formed or conceived beforehand; existing in the mind prior to experience

• It is important to approach the research without any preconceived notions.
• Don't go into the movie with any preconceived ideas about it.
• Try not to have any preconceived judgments about the new restaurant.
• She entered the debate with a preconceived strategy in mind.

noun a preconceived opinion or bias; a preexisting condition or state of mind

adjective prepossessing - creating a favorable impression beforehand

• Her prepossession towards classical music made her a dedicated patron of the symphony orchestra.
• I can tell by his prepossession with vintage cars that he's a real enthusiast.
• Don't let your prepossession with designer labels blind you to other fashion options.
• His prepossession with finding the perfect solution often hindered his ability to make decisions quickly.

noun a matter or situation regarded as unwelcome or harmful and needing to be dealt with and overcome

verb not applicable

adjective not applicable

adverb not applicable

pronoun not applicable

preposition not applicable

conjunction not applicable

interjection not applicable

article not applicable

• The company is facing a significant problem with their supply chain management.
• I can't figure out how to solve this math problem.
• I've got 99 problems, but this ain't one.
• Sometimes life throws us a curveball, but it's just another problem to solve.

noun the mental process of thinking about something in a logical way in order to form a conclusion or judgement

verb None

adjective None

adverb None

pronoun None

preposition None

conjunction None

interjection None

article None

• The professor's reasoning behind his theory was based on extensive research and analysis.
• I don't understand your reasoning for quitting your job out of the blue.
• Her reasoning for ghosting him was pretty shady if you ask me.
• The artist's reasoning for choosing such bold colors in her painting was to evoke strong emotions in the viewer.

verb to think deeply or carefully about something

preposition used to indicate the action of thinking about something deeply or carefully

• It is important to take time to reflect upon your actions and decisions.
• Hey, let's sit down and reflect upon what happened yesterday.
• Dude, we need to chill and reflect upon our lives, man.
• The still water of the lake reflects upon the beauty of the surrounding mountains.

noun a noun is a word that refers to a person, place, thing, or idea. In this case, 'reasoning' is a noun as it refers to the act of thinking about something in a logical way.

adjective an adjective is a word that describes or modifies a noun. In this case, 'specious' is an adjective that describes the type of reasoning as misleading or deceptive.

• The defendant's argument was based on specious reasoning and lacked solid evidence.
• Don't fall for his specious reasoning - he's just trying to trick you.
• Her specious reasoning is so obvious, it's like she's not even trying to make sense.
• His specious reasoning was like building a house on sand - it was bound to collapse.

noun the quality or state of being specious; superficially plausible, but actually wrong or misleading

adjective specious

• The speciousness of the argument was quickly exposed during the debate.
• His speciousness was so obvious that no one believed him.
• Her speciousness was off the charts - she couldn't fool anyone with that excuse.
• The speciousness of his promises left a bitter taste in everyone's mouth.

noun a supposition that something may be true, even though there is no evidence to confirm it

verb to suppose that something is true without having evidence to confirm it

• Based on the evidence presented, we can surmise that the suspect is guilty.
• I can only surmise what happened based on the limited information I have.
• I'm just guessing, but I surmise that he's not going to show up to the party.
• When faced with uncertainty, we often have to surmise our way through the situation.

adjective An adjective is a word that describes or modifies a noun or pronoun. In this case, 'thought provoking' describes something that stimulates or encourages deep thinking.

• The professor presented a thought provoking argument during the lecture.
• I just watched a thought provoking documentary on Netflix.
• That movie was so thought provoking, it really made me think.
• His artwork is truly thought provoking, each piece tells a unique story.

noun the state or quality of being thoughtful; consideration or attention given to others' needs or feelings

• His thoughtfulness in considering every detail of the project impressed the entire team.
• I appreciate your thoughtfulness in remembering my birthday.
• Thanks for the thoughtfulness, you're a real gem.
• Her thoughtfulness was like a warm blanket on a cold winter night, comforting and reassuring.

noun the quality or state of being without thought or consideration; lack of mindfulness or awareness

• The accident was caused by the driver's thoughtlessness.
• I can't believe his thoughtlessness led to such a mess.
• Her thoughtlessness really messed things up.
• His thoughtlessness was like a wrecking ball in our plans.

verb past participle form of the verb 'persuade'

adjective describing someone who is not convinced or swayed by something

• Despite the convincing arguments presented by the defense attorney, the jury remained unpersuaded.
• I tried to convince him to come to the party, but he was completely unpersuaded.
• No matter how much I tried to sell him on the idea, he was just not feeling it - totally unpersuaded.
• Her heart was unpersuaded by his empty promises, knowing better than to trust him again.

noun lack of reason or good sense; irrationality

• The decision to cut funding for the program was met with unreason by the stakeholders.
• I can't believe the unreason behind their refusal to compromise.
• It's pure unreason to think you can get away with cheating on the test.
• His unreason was like a dark cloud that overshadowed every discussion we had.

adjective not influenced or affected by someone or something; not persuaded or convinced

• Despite the persuasive arguments presented, the judge remained unswayed in her decision.
• Even after all that, she was still unswayed.
• No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't sway her, she was unswayed.
• Like a rock in a river, she stood unswayed by the currents of influence.

noun a false statement; a lie

• The spread of untruths can have serious consequences in a professional setting.
• Don't believe everything you hear, there's a lot of untruth going around.
• She's just spouting untruths to make herself look better.
• His words were like a web of untruths, trapping anyone who dared to believe them.

noun a term used to describe the phenomenon of the diminishing role of facts and analysis in public life

• Truth decay is a phenomenon where the line between fact and fiction becomes increasingly blurred.
• Have you noticed the truth decay in the news lately? It's hard to know what to believe.
• I can't stand all the truth decay on social media. It's like everyone is making up their own version of reality.
• The truth decay in politics is like a virus spreading unchecked, infecting everything it touches.

noun a Latin phrase meaning 'to the man', used to describe an argument that attacks a person's character rather than addressing the issue at hand

• The argument presented was based on ad hominem attacks rather than logical reasoning.
• She always resorts to ad hom attacks when she's losing an argument.
• He's just ad hom-ing because he can't handle being wrong.
• Using ad hominem in a debate is like bringing a knife to a gunfight.

adverb in a foolish or silly manner

• She spoke fatuously about the benefits of the new policy without considering any potential drawbacks.
• He fatuously believed he could win the game without even practicing.
• Stop talking fatuously, you sound ridiculous.
• His fatuously optimistic attitude towards life often leads to disappointment.

noun a type of flawed, illogical, or convoluted reasoning or argumentation

• The argument presented by the defendant was filled with pretzel logic, making it difficult for the jury to follow.
• I couldn't make sense of her explanation, it was like trying to untangle pretzel logic.
• His excuse was just a bunch of pretzel logic, trying to twist the truth.
• Her reasoning was like a twisted pretzel, full of convoluted logic.

noun a noun is a word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea. In this case, 'academic freedom' is a noun because it represents a concept or idea related to the freedom to pursue knowledge and research without interference or censorship.

• Academic freedom is essential for the pursuit of knowledge and the advancement of society.
• Teachers and students value academic freedom because it allows for open discussion and exploration.
• Dude, academic freedom rocks because you can totally speak your mind without getting in trouble.
• In the realm of academia, academic freedom is like a shield that protects the integrity of research and learning.